For developers, clean code is second nature. You understand the importance of structure, readability, and efficiency — and that same philosophy can be applied outside of the code editor. One fun and practical exercise is building a clean, minimalist recipe website centered around a popular and aesthetic drink: the iced matcha latte. Here’s how to approach this project with a clean code mindset, while also learning how to make the drink itself.
Step 1: Define the Purpose and Audience
Before writing any HTML or boiling water, clarify your goal. This site is a single-page guide for developers who enjoy minimalist web design and appreciate good aesthetics — both in UI and beverages. The target is clarity: make it so simple that a beginner developer or a non-tech friend can follow along, both in the recipe and in the code.
Step 2: Set Up the Project Structure
Just like separating logic and UI in software, you should organize your project with clean separation:
/iced-matcha-latte
│
├── index.html
├── style.css
└── script.js (optional for interactions)
Avoid clutter. A single HTML file with clean semantic structure, linked to a separate stylesheet, keeps things readable.
Step 3: Build a Semantic HTML Skeleton
Use clean, semantic HTML5 tags to structure your content. Your index.html might look like this:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="UTF-8" />
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0" />
<title>Iced Matcha Latte</title>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="style.css" />
</head>
<body>
<header>
<h1>Iced Matcha Latte Recipe</h1>
<p>Crafted for Developers</p>
</header>
<main>
<section>
<h2>Ingredients</h2>
<ul>
<li>1 tsp matcha powder</li>
<li>2 oz hot water</li>
<li>1 cup milk (any kind)</li>
<li>Ice cubes</li>
<li>Optional sweetener (honey, syrup, etc.)</li>
</ul>
</section>
<section>
<h2>Instructions</h2>
<ol>
<li>Sift the matcha powder into a bowl to remove clumps.</li>
<li>Add hot water (not boiling) and whisk until frothy.</li>
<li>Fill a glass with ice.</li>
<li>Pour milk over the ice.</li>
<li>Slowly pour in the matcha mixture.</li>
<li>Stir and sweeten to taste.</li>
</ol>
</section>
</main>
<footer>
<p>Built with clean code & clean ingredients.</p>
</footer>
</body>
</html>
Step 4: Style with Simplicity
Use CSS to enhance readability and elegance without overcomplicating things:
body {
font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;
margin: 0;
padding: 2em;
background: #f7f7f7;
color: #333;
}
header, footer {
text-align: center;
}
ul, ol {
padding-left: 1.5em;
}
Use variables, consistent spacing, and keep styles modular if expanding.
Step 5: Polish and Test
Run the site on a local server. Check responsiveness. Keep accessibility in mind — use proper contrast, alt attributes for images, and semantic tags. Every part of the site should feel as clean as the drink looks.
Final Thought
Building a clean code website around a simple iced matcha latte recipe is a fun way to reinforce development best practices. It reminds us that structure, clarity, and simplicity are not only useful in software, but in all things we create.